"Yes, it could have done so," sputtered Percival, "but it did not do so
without help. The same fellows who tumbled the rocks into the hole took
away the boat. I have an idea who they were. I spoke pretty sharp to
Herring the other day, and he has probably been nursing his wrath ever
since."

"You are too suspicious, Dick, and--hello! did you bring that bag with
you?" for the first time noticing that Percival had the bag of coin which
he himself had handed to his friend.

"Yes, you told me to take care of it, and I did," and Percival put the bag
in the outside pocket of his jacket. "Well have to hail the yacht, old
chap. We can make our way in that direction along the top of the bank. It
is not such bad going, and then we have the axe if it is necessary to cut
our way through the undergrowth."

They set out along the top of the bank, keeping a lookout for the vessel,
now and then having to cut their way on account of the thickness of the
growth, which was often as high as their waists.

"The rocks could not have fallen in by themselves, and the boat gotten
adrift at the same time," muttered Percival as they went on. "Both of
these things were done by some one who wished to annoy us. Watch and see
how some of the fellows look when we get back."

"Very well, I will, but I don't see why any one should have done it,
perhaps both of these things were accidents."

"Either one of them might have been, but is it likely that both were, and